Flume tank study of surface morphology and stratigraphy of a fan delta |
| |
| Authors: | Junhui Wang Zaixing Jiang Yuanfu Zhang Liming Gao Xiaojie Wei Wenzhao Zhang Yu Liang Haiying Zhang |
| |
| Institution: | 1. School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China;2. Institute of Earth 3. Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China;4. Research Center, CNOOC Ltd., Beijing, China;5. Shanghai Branch of CNOOC Ltd., Shanghai, China |
| |
| Abstract: | The morphodynamics of a river flood on a fan delta and its resultant stratigraphic and sedimentary signatures have been studied by means of a flume experiment under controlled boundary conditions. The experiment revealed that deposition was dominant in flood periods when the channels were highly loaded with sediments. In contrast, erosion was dominant in periods of low flow. Mouth bars were formed when a subaqueous channel began to backfill. The development of a mouth bar began with progradation in the down‐dip direction and proceeded by aggradation, then retrogradation and finally transverse growth. A channel bifurcated in multiple stages by sequentially forming mouth bars or by simultaneously forming arrays of mouth bars. During the bifurcation, the diffluent point moved upstream, which resulted in channel migration and the development of a delta lobe. Flood events triggered fan‐delta front slide‐slump deposits. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
